1978 March 783 #29 Toyota Formula Three

Just as March were a major force in Formula Two, their Formula Three programme was proving to be just as successful. They had dominated the Championship from 1973 with the late and great Ian Taylor , through to 1978, with the quick Brit - Stephen South. The Formula was still seen as a graduation point for aspiring Grand Prix drivers, in either the British F3 Championship or its European equivalent. Mika Häkkinen and Ayrton Senna were previous Champions and the German F3 Championship had seen Michael Schumacher emerge as a future seven times World Champion.

This March 782, #29, is the last Formula 3 built by March and it was delivered to Michael Korten in July 1978. Using this car for the remainder of that season, he was to become runner up in the German Formula 3 Championship. For the 1979 season, complete with factory updates, Korten then won the Championship at his second attempt, robbed of a Monaco potential win because of an accident on the first lap with Mauro Baldi.As a championship winning car, it was purchased by VW to be used to prove the new VW Formula 3 engine with Günther Gebhardt. Monaco was a success where they achieved a ninth place. The car remained in Germany until 1990 when it returned to the UK with Peter Denty.

In 1992 restoration was underway by new owner, Chris Perkins, and a Toyota engine was fitted for use in future historic Formula 3 racing.

The car was then sold to Dave Knight in 2001.

In 2011 Frank Sytner asked world renowned single seater experts, Simon Hadfield Motorsport, to prepare the car for Historic Formula Three, with the 2012 Monaco Historic F3 race particularly in mind. With a complete rebuild undertaken, it was raced by Hadfield at Brands Hatch in September 2011 and proved to be a front runner. The car was last raced by Frank Sytner at this year's Monaco Historic event in the pre-1985 Formula Three race, so it is still very "fresh' and ready to be a front running car once more. Complete with all the correct FIA HTP papers, this is an important F3 car with fantastic period history, successful results and known history behind it. Today it represents a great opportunity to be at the best events worldwide in a reliable, competitive and cost effective form of motorsport. Absolutely "on the button'.